A boy wades through a flooded area during a widespread flood in the northeastern part of the country, in Sylhet, Bangladesh, June 19, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

PESHAWAR:Unchecked illegal construction of hotels, resorts and restaurants at the riverbanks across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) intensified the flash floods that hit most parts of the province on August 27 damaging dozens of hotels and other settlements.

From Mataltan to Kalam valleys, the flood in River Swat destroyed about 30 illegally constructed hotels and damaged 50 others as rainfall broke a 30-year record in the Malakand division.

The illegal construction of hotels in the river Swat had not only obstructed the flow of floodwater but also resulted in the overflow of rivers damaging properties in main Bahrain bazaar.

The data shared by the office of commissioner Malakand showed that about 30 hotels at Kalam, Bahrain, Madain, Landaki and Fizagat mostly built on Swat’s riverbed were destroyed and another 50 damaged.

Similarly, 700 hotels, motels, inns and restaurants were completely inundated at Kalam, Bahrain, Kabal, Charbagh, Manglawar, Khwazakhela, Matta, Madain and Mingora bypass road that inflicted colossal losses on hoteling sector in Swat.

President All Swat Hotels Association, Zahid Khan claimed that recent floods have either damaged or destroyed about 50 hotels and 150 restaurants that caused about Rs25 billion losses.

He said that approximately Rs70 billion economic losses were incurred only to tourism-related businesses in Malakand division.

“The large-scale encroachment and illegal construction around banks of river Swat and other watercourses contributed to massive losses to hotels industry, trout fish farms, agriculture, orchards and livestock,” he said.

The situation is worrisome and raises question as to why the concerned departments kept mum over illegal constructions.

“The people, businessmen, farmers and hoteliers of Swat would continue to suffer from flood hazards if all these illegal structures are not removed and constructed at a safe distance from rivers,” said Wajid Ali Khan, former minister for environment.

He said illegal construction of hotels and buildings near banks of River Swat, especially at Kalam, Bahrain and Madain had marred the natural beauty of the tourist areas besides affecting trout fish production.

“The people of Swat were mostly relying on tourism sector for a living and destruction of a large number of hotels deprived many people of their livelihood,” Wajid said, adding that if the relevant laws had been fully complied, the losses could be reduced significantly.

Expressing concern on illegal constructions on river banks, especially in Swat, the National Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Water Resources had sought recommendations from different departments for formulating new water and environment policy for the country in view of climate change challenges. The sub-committee was constituted after devastation in recent flash floods and torrential rains along river Swat, Indus and Kunhar.

Convener of the Committee, MNA Riazul Haq said that the federal government was mulling amendment in existing laws and enacting fresh legislation on water and environment issues including encroachment in rivers to avert any future losses due to climatic changes.

Commenting on this issue, Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan said Section 144 has been imposed banning all kinds of construction alongside rivers in the aftermath of recent calamity.

He claimed that most of these hotels damaged in flood, were constructed before Rivers Protection Act 2014. “This Act strictly prohibits construction of hotels, houses and other projects within a distance of 200 feet of the rivers.”

“From now on, no person would be allowed to construct commercial or non-commercial buildings or carryout any other development work within 200 feet of the rivers and streams in Swat,” he said.

He also warned of strict action against violators of this Act under Section 188 of PPC and said, operation against illegal construction, encroachment as well as accumulation of debris along the River Swat has already been launched.

He also mentioned constitution of a three-member committee headed by assistant commissioner Bahrain to work out an inclusive strategy for identification of encroachments and illegal constructions alongside the river.

Meanwhile, sub-divisional officer irrigation Bahrain has been assigned the responsibility to identify encroachment under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa River Protection Act (Amended) 2014, for further necessary action.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2022.